FIRST OF ALL

EMIL HIMSELF

This is, first things being first, Emil himself. In his navyblue Sunday suit. He doesn’t like wearing it, and only puts it on when he has to. Blue suits get stained so easily. And then Emil’s mother dampens the clothes brush, clamps her son between her knees, and brushes him down, all the while scolding him, “Emil, Emil! You know perfectly well I can’t afford to get you another suit.” And once again he remembers—too late—how she works all day to put food on the table and so he can go to school.